An informed mix of fiction, history and politics. A book that reads like a private diary, like a secret and a discovery, where characters from history and fiction mingle. Livresque78, 05 October 2018   “Frankenstein was really hard science before its time”, says author Johan Heliot. “You could almost say that this book is the predecessor of modern science fiction. The novel questions the nature of life and of man, questions ever present in this genre.” Frankenstein 1918, by the French specialist in historical uchronia, came out on 20th September, published by L’Atalante. This excellent narrative imagines Frankenstein’s research being used to create...

From twists and turns to unexpected situation reversal, a pleasant adventure to read and also one where you are back in the pirate stories you found so enchanting as a child, with slavery and rumours of war as a backdrop. All contained within a perfectly mastered fluid writing style. In short we look forward to reading the next book in the series. Hélène M., Les Vagabonds du rêve  The historical context and an exciting feel of adventure are what I like and have always liked in the Alexia Dumas saga. The maritime vocabulary and descriptions of ship storming and other skirmishes are of great interest in the novel because we become totally immersed in the early 19th century...

Here is a really good adventure novel for young adult readers, with echoes of Robert Louis Stevenson and Alexandre Dumas, after whom the heroine is named. All the necessary aspects of the genre are present: unforeseen alliances, unsuspected treachery, rapid situation reversals... Mureliane, Les Chroniques de l'Imaginaire   A real young adult novel to dream along and grow up with Alexia and at the same time learn a lot about both pirates and the historical context (colonial conflicts, slave trafficking, the fight for abolition, Haïti's particular situation). The novel carries a message about freedom which will please young teenagers. The style is adapted to its readership, as is Didier...

"Willingly swept along by these hectic adventures, we endeavour to unravel the threads of the story. A narrative that cleverly makes use of both fantasy and piracy. We look forward to the third volume..." La revue des livres pour enfants   "The reader is confronted with vulnerable and distressed heroes, and, like them, hopes for a favourable outcome. The author brings his central characters to life by paving their way with delights and obstacles both large and small. A thrilling and passionate narrative with charismatic heroes, this second volume of the Quête d'Espérance fulfils the demands of the reader after the first really exciting book. Johan Héliot makes the...

Johan Héliot is a multi-talented author. Here he has written a children’s novel where action and twists in the plot follow each other in rapid succession. Phénix Web   Héliot elegantly distils just enough of the essentials to excite the curiosity of the reader without ever actually giving away the plot. This novel ends on a most amazing cliff-hanger Le cafard cosmique   A superb beginning to the series then, which in many aspects echoes Herbert, and merits our attention. http://journalsemilitteraire.over-blog.com/     Johan Héliot is an excellent story teller. He neatly combines two great forms of the adventure narrative: a pirate...